201311

NOTICEBOARD Deaths General Sir Basil Ian Spencer Gourlay.

Commissioned into RM 1940, joined Fleet carrier HMS Formidable 1941 and took part in Allied landings in North Africa and Sicily before being appointed Cdr of C Troop 43 Cdo in 1944. After raids on Adriatic islands and mainland he was awarded an MC. Redeployed to Italy they cleared the banks of the River Reno – the RM’s last battle honour of the war. After a spell in Hong Kong with 45 Cdo he was appointed MBE then held training posts. As brigade major to 3 Cdo 1955 he was involved in counter-insurgency operations in Cyprus and was appointed OBE and mentioned in despatches for planning and executing the operation of landing 500 men of 45 Cdo by helicopter at Port Said during the Suez Crisis. As OC training wing (1957-59) and 2iC of 42 Cdo in Singapore (1959-61) he was tasked with developing this new tactic. 1963-65 he led 42 Cdo during the Borneo Confrontation and 1966-71 oversaw the running down of British forces East of Suez. 1968-71 in charge of RM training and as CommandantGeneral 1971-75 he led his Corps as it made the change from specialists in jungle and desert warfare to Arctic troops charged with defending NATO’s northern flank against Soviet attack; he was appointed KCB 1973.

July 17. Aged 92.

Prof John Forfar Medical Officer of 47 RM Cdo. 1942 commissioned into the RAMC as captain, serving with 11th Field Ambulance before joining 47 RM Cdo. June 1944 Allied troops landed in France to capture Port-en-Bessin intact as a terminal for PLUTO (PipeLine Under The Ocean). They suffered heavy losses; his landing craft struck a mine and he lost all his surgical equipment, but managed to set up aid posts to treat marines, soldiers, Germans and civilians; almost half of 47 Cdo were killed, wounded or missing; he was mentioned in despatches. 47 Cdo’s last action was storming Walcheren, which guarded Antwerp. Under heavy fire 15 marines were killed and 21 wounded but with mortar shells bursting all around Forfar attended to the wounded; he then went on to look for the missing troop commander whom he found lying wounded, shot through the eye. As he was treating him a German machine gun opened fire, killing one of the stretcher party and wounding another but he continued to treat his patient, putting him over his shoulder to carry him to safety – the wounded man survived into his 80s. Forfar was awarded an MC. Post war he continued to take a pastoral interest in the survivors and dependants of 47 Cdo. Aug 14. Aged 96.

Cdr T V Giles Binney FAA. Joined the RN College at Eaton Hall 1944 and spent months in MTB 616 before boarding troopship Athlone Castle to join HMS Renown at Durban. On VJ-Day he was a midshipman in HMS Belfast, one of the first Allied warships to enter Formosa and

Commander (S) P.A. Dawes RNR ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ You may have heard it said before But this simple short phrase Sums up my Father Like no other A lifetime at sea Through peace and war He served his country Like legions before When I was a boy He was often away For months on end But when he retired We talked man to man As well as a Father He became my best friend I was caught in a storm And he guided me To a safe harbour With patience, love and tranquillity.

My Dad set sail On his final voyage Many years past But he went down fighting Colours nailed to the mast He’s now with old crew-mates Aboard that great ship in the sky I hope to join him When the time comes For my last goodbye.

Shanghai. Returning to the UK 1946, after a single familiarisation flight in a Tiger Moth he was determined to become a naval aviator, attending the Naval Elementary Flying Training School in Nottinghamshire; he flew his first solo after 6h 25m. 1949 the engine of his Firefly blew up in flight. 1951 he flew Fairey Fireflies with 812 NAS from HMS Glory (Korea); he was mentioned in despatches. He qualified as an Air Warfare Instructor and 1956 commanded 804 NAS flying Scimitars from HMS Hermes.

Subsequently he was naval attaché in Ethiopia (1964-66) and in Lisbon (197275). He was shot down 1974 while on a fact-finding tour of Mozambique with other Lisbon-based attachés. Appointed OBE in 1976. August 13. Aged 87.

Lt Cdr Peter Charles Marshall. Joined the RN 1954 and learnt to fly with US Navy Pensacola, Florida; he qualified as an air warfare instructor in 1958. Served in HMS Centaur, Ark Royal, Eagle and HMAS Melbourne and 1969-70 commanded 767 NAS. Whilst flying a Phantom his aircraft suffered a heavy blow, an engine, wing and fuselage were damaged and his aircraft was vibrating severely; his windscreen was covered in thick dark fluid. With both engines flaming out he managed to return safely to Yeovilton 130 miles away. He was awarded the Boyd Trophy 1969 for exceptional skill and courage and received an AFC. In 1972 he transferred to the RAN and served for 18 years. Retired 1990. August 3. Aged 82.

Lt Colonel Jimmy Eagles RM. Commissioned 1936 and at outbreak of war was serving in HMS Sussex searching for Graf Spee. In 1940 he joined No1 Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation as adjutant of the 2nd AA Regt. After commanding the 23rd Light AA Battery in India he redeployed to Kent to help defend London from V1 and V2 rockets. In 1944 tasked with air defence of 21st Army Group around Cherbourg then protecting the Canadian and US Armies in Belgium, later providing air defence around Antwerp and Scheldt estuary. Post war he made an important contribution to experimental work on amphibious vehicles.

1955 appointed Fleet Intelligence Officer on the staff of the CinC South Atlantic and South America. August 26. Aged 95.

Lt Cdr Charles Coles. Joined RNVR as midshipman in 1937 and at the outbreak of war was sent to 1st MTB Flotilla in Malta.

1940 he was liaison officer to the Royal Norwegian Navy MTB flotilla where he rescued Dutch officers, landed agents in Belgium and took part in scheme to use fire ships to destroy German invasion barges in France (Operation Lucid). He returned to the Med as CO of MTB 216 which was destroyed during a German air raid on Suda Bay 1941. After a period as liaison officer in a Yugoslav MTB he was given command of MTB 262 (10th Flotilla) serving off North Africa. 1942 he was operating out of Tobruk. Whilst laying mines off Tunisia he was forced to abandon ship after a battery failure; he was taken prisoner and interned.

After being liberated he was promoted to Lt Cdr and appointed to Naval Intelligence; demobbed late 1946. August 27. Aged 97.

Lt Cdr Jeremy ‘Jem’ Tetley. Joined as an aviation cadet in 1949 and went solo in nine hours, logging more than 3,000 flying hours 1951-54. He served three appointments as ‘batsman’: in the carrier Theseus (Suez Crisis), Warrior (Far East after the Korean War) and Ocean. Gaining his bridge watchkeeping ticket 1958 he learned to fly the Gannet, Whirlwind and Wessex helicopters. 1962 as senior pilot of 815 NAS he lifted Royal Marines high into the Radfan mountains north of Aden,

then as acting CO 1963-64 and whilst on board Ark Royal he spent ten days ferrying a herd of tiny hirola (Hunter’s hartebeest) to Tsavo to save them from extinction. Retired in 1964 with no accidents in his flying log to become a farmer. High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1976. July 3. Aged 82.

Alf Norman Batley CPO OPS (M).

Served 1951-75. Joined HMS Ganges and served in HMS Teazer, Manxman, Devonshire, Ajax, Scylla and Cavalier, also Pembroke, Excellent and Drake. Portsmouth Field Gun crew 1962 and one of Churchill’s funeral gun carriage crew 1965. Member of HMS Cavalier Association. Sept 3. Aged 78.

Martin ‘Doc’ ‘Dolly’ Dalton MEM(M) 1st Class. Served 1977-86 at Raleigh, Sultan, Neptune and Rooke (1981-82), also in HMS Tiger, Repulse and Fearless, Portsmouth, Faslane and Helensburgh. Played football and athletics. July 4. Aged 53.

James T ‘Jim’ Nelson EM. Joined HMS Raleigh 1949 and served in HMS Newfoundland 1950, Vanguard 1951, Roebuck 1953 and HMY Britannia. HMS Vanguard Association and Association of Royal Yachtsmen. July 9. Aged 81.

David Bird WO. Served 1964-98 in HMS Leander, Scarborough, Eskimo and Achilles, also CTF 345 Northwood.

September 22. Aged 65.

Edward ‘Uncle Ted’ ‘Robbie’ Roberts WO1 (OPS)(S). Served 1950-87 HMS St Vincent, Bigbury Bay, Newcastle (C76), Minesweeper 1044, Blackpool, Eastbourne, Indefatigable, Undaunted, Tartar, BRNC Dartmouth and HMS Vernon; also at FOST (Portland) as a Searider. After leaving the RN he worked in the INM. Member of TAS(I) Association. September 11. Aged 78.

James ‘Jim’ Tetchner CPO Mech.

Served 1947-69; RN for 22 years and RM for three. Trained at Nuthatch then served in Ark Royal, Hermes, Illustrious, Ocean, Albion, 814, 807 and 898 NAS then 3 Cdo and 40 and 41 Cdo in Borneo. Sept 9. Aged 84.

Anthony ‘Jan’ Gough L/Ck. Served 1966-77 HMS Collingwood, Mohawk, Bellerophon (Belfast), Hardy, Vernon and Tartar. September 18. Aged 63.

Peter J Lukes CPO (Operations). Served 1947-86 in HMS Concord (Yangtze Incident 1949), Altham, Coniston and Euryalus.

1971-86 Glasgow Careers Office and HMS Inskip. Ton Class, Impregnable and Concord Associations. October 4. Aged 81.

Edward ‘Shiner’ A Wright RM. Served in HMS Liverpool 1948-50 and a member of the association. September 20.

Sydney G Montague LS. Served HMS Sussex and drove landing craft on D-Day onto Juno Beach. Took part in Russian and Malta convoys then in Indonesia. Served HMS Liverpool Jan-Sept 1942 and a member of the association. October 5. Aged 93.

Royal Naval Association Douglas ‘Pedlar’ Palmer L/Sig. Joined aged 15 and served 1938-53. Survivor of the sinking of HMS Barham aged 16 and after treatment in Alexandria he was sent to New York to recuperate. Later joined Arctic convoys and served in the Far East; also HMS Eagle first commission 1951. Member of Maryport RNA and HMS Barham Association. May 31. Aged 90.

Raymond ‘Ray’ Drewery OS. Served 1947-52 HMS Victory and Vanguard.

Norwich RNA. September 11. Aged 80.

Leslie ‘Les’ Whitmore Aircraft Handler.

Served 1946-48 HMS Ocean and Daedalus.

For many years a member of Cheshunt and lately Norwich RNA. October 4. Aged 86.

Tom Edwards PO Stoker Mech. Served HMS Newfoundland, Devonshire, Sparrow, Consort and Cardigan Bay. Chairman and

Reunions December 2013 Royal Naval Engineroom Association Christmas party on December 14 at the Nautical Club, Bishopgate Street, Birmingham B15 1ET 1900-2330.

Associate members ‘free’, non-members £8. Contact Bob Styants at bob.styants@ btinternet.com or tel: 0121 422 4115.

HMS Aldenham Association annual service in memory of officers and men who lost their lives December 14 1944 when Aldenham was sunk in the Adriatic (the last British-manned destroyer sunk in WW2) is to be held at the Church of St John the Baptist in Aldenham near Watford on December 15, 1015. The Ensign dedicated in 1982 will be laid up and a new Ensign re-dedicated and raised. Afterwards a buffet will be held at nearby Aldenham Sports and Social Club. All friends and relatives welcome. Contact John Carder to register interest on 01442 249792 or email: johned.carder@ntlworld.com January 2014 HMS Illustrious Association annual service of Remembrance will be at St James Garlickhythe, London EC4V 2AF, on

If you can’t always find a copy of NAVY NEWS, help is at hand!

Complete this form and hand it in at your local newsagent, they’ll arrange for a copy of each issue to be reserved for you.

Some may even be able to arrange for it to be delivered to your home.

Just ask!

Please reserve/deliver my copy of Navy News on a regular basis, starting with issue:

Subject to availability

Tel. Number .....................................

..........................................................

Title ......... First name ....................

Surname ..........................................

Address ........................................... .......................................................... ..........................................................

Postcode .........................................

January 16, starting 1310. Contact Frances Garton on 07985 196908.

February 2014 HMS Penelope Association annual reunion at Blackpool from February 21-23.

Details of membership and reunion from secretary at mike.bee@ntlworld.com or write to 1 Oddfellows St, Mirfield, WF14 9AB. HMS Andromeda Association F57 annual reunion at the North Stafford Hotel, Winton Square, Station Road, Stoke ST4 2AE February 28 to March 2. Details from Rick Matthews at rickmatthews57@ btinternet.com or 07836 747070.

March 2014 The Undine & Urchin Association in company with Ursa, Ulster Ulysses, Urania and Undaunted are holding a reunion at the Scarisbrick Hotel, Lord Street, Southport, Merseyside, March 7-10. Details from Chris Heslop at chris@cheslop.plus.com or write to 20 Larch Drive, Stanwix, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9FL, tel 01228 401378.

HMS Duchess Association reunion at the Britannia Hotel, Coventry, March 28-30.

Details: Sharky Ward at 17 Marne Gardens, Lincoln LN1 3UQ or tel: 01522 872998.

Hermes Cooks 1968/70 annual gettogether on March 29-30 at the Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth. Contact H Enright at scouseenright@hotmail.co.uk or tel: 07884 040041.

April 2014 HMS Cavalier Association AGM and annual reunion at the King Charles Hotel April 4-7. Contact Dave Shardlow, 115 Boundary Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7ES at davemooseman@aol.com or tel: 01163 678134. Standard bearers who have not already been contacted and would like to attend the parade and march past on April 5 contact Terry Willis, 28 Pippin Lane, Northampton, NN3 9TQ tel: 01604 517112 or terry.willis@hotmail.co.uk HMS Loch Fada Association F390 reunion at the Royal Beach Hotel, St Helens Parade, Southsea PO4 0NR from April 11-14, includes AGM at 1000 on 12th and dinner at 1900 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of K/F390 commissioning.

For booking and more info contact IOW Tours on 01983 405116, email enquiries@ iowtours.com and mention F390, or Frenchy Sec F390 at f390.sec11@ virginmedia.com or tel: 01252 310767.

President of Stourbridge branch. HMS Consort Association. Sept 25. Aged 83.

Janet King, partner of 8 Area Life Vice President Stuart Reynolds. HQ roll. Sept 24.

David Pearson. Served HMS Peacock.

Member of Chesham & Amersham RNA, HMS Peacock Association and Royal British Legion. September 27. Aged 77.

Eric Gower Aircraft Mechanic. Joined 1943 and served HMS Gosling, RAF Henlow, RAF Melksham (Aircraft Mechanic training) then to the Far East 1944-45 to 742 and 888 NAS in Sembawang. Watford RNA and Watford FAA Association. Life member, ex-chairman and standard bearer.

September 5. Aged 87.

Submariners Association J L ‘John’ Clayton CPO Coxn.

Submarine Service 1956-78 in Auriga, Artemis, Cachalot, Opportune, Porpoise, Grampus, Opossum, Swiftsure and Onyx.

Norfolk branch. Aged 75.

N ‘Norman’ Dally PO. Mech(L).

Submarine Service 1942-46 in L26, H34, Sea Rover and Sturdy. Leicestershire branch. Aged 89.

Lt Cdr (E) T ‘Terry’ Eames. Submarine Service 1943-44 in P511, Otus 1, L27 and P553. Australia branch. Aged 92.

S D. ‘Stanley’ Hancox AB ST. Submarine Service 1945-49 in Taku, Tactician, Teredo, Alliance and Templar.

Middlesex branch. Aged 87.

Algerines Association Herbert Luscombe SERA. Served aboard Rosamund. August 10. Aged 87.

Bill Crawford Tel. Served aboard ML870. August 11. Aged 89.

Joe Kelly Sto. Served aboard Moon and Thisbe. August 21. Aged 87.

George Tindel.

Served aboard Tanganyika. August 23. Aged 88.

Vic Spring AB. Served aboard Tanganyika. September 6. Aged 87.

John Boyes AB. Served aboard Mystic.

Ron Breeze AB. Served aboard Albacore and Coquette. September 18. Aged 87.

Bill Hilton AB. Served aboard Spanker.

September 25. Aged 87.

Kenneth Rumsby AB. Served aboard Rinaldo. September 28. Aged 87.

Walter Last Sig. Served aboard Antares.

October 3. Aged 87.

Fleet Air Arm Association Stephen Johnson CAEA(L). Served 1965-92 in HMS Hermes, Ark Royal, Daedalus (MARTSU) and 809 NAS. Solent branch. September 4.

Philip ‘Phil’ Jones WOAF (AE). Served 1947-79. Solent branch. May 25.

Eric ‘Tug’ Wilson PO Electrician (Air).

Served 1947-55. Wrekin branch. Sept.

HMS Illustrious Association Roy Allen. Served as a Stoker on board 1942-45. September 1.

Keith Sims. Served on board as a Signalman 1946-47. August 21.

George Kirkup. Associate member.

June 22.

Sidney Noonan. Served on board 1943.

April 3.

Peter Stokes FAA. Served on board 1943-45. July 21.

Honours Afghanistan: CBE: Brig Robert Magowan; DSO: Lt Col Matt Jackson; CGC: Capt Owen Davis; MC: Mne Craig Buchanan and Mne Harry Robinson; QCVS: Capt Will Goodman, Lt Col Simon Hall, L/Cpl Thomas Harrison, Maj Gen David Hook, Capt Thomas Limb, Maj Michael Scanlon.

Non-operational gallantry: OBE: Cdr Allan Wallace; MBE: WO1 ET(ME) Mark Hinton; QCVS: Lt Cdr Ian Feasey, PO Logs (SC) Paul Statham.

Sports lottery Sept 14: £5,000 – AB S Griffiths; £1,500 – AB L Wilson; £500 – Cpl T Jordan.

Sept 21: £5,000 – Lt T C Curnock; £1,500 – Sub Lt A King; £500 – CPO S Hall.

Sept 28: £5,000 – LH C Piper; £1,500 – Mne J Barnfield; £500 – LH J Ross.

Oct 5: £5,000 – R Adm T Fraser; £1,500 – Lt D Bebbington; £500 – Lt M Philipson.

Ask Jack Lowestoft SCC: TS Europa will be celebrating its 50th year in 2015 and is seeking former staff and cadets to arrange a reunion. Contact former Lt David Jefferson (SCC) RNR davidjefferson37@ hotmail.com or tel: 07766703162.

‘They could have waited until we were back alongside!’

Farewell to Smiles

LT CDR Charles Miles, who chronicled change in the Royal Navy for over four decades in the pages of Navy News, died on October 7 at the age of 90.

Charles, under the pen-name Smiles, had the tough job of reflecting changes in rules and regulations such as the ban on smoking in submarines, as illustrated above in February 2006, shortly before his retirement.

He joined as an Air Artificer Apprentice 1939, took his commission in 1946 and switched to aircrew, as a pilot, then observer, then Direction

Officer; his post-war flying duties were with 814 and 827 NAS. Between 1952-64 he served HMS Indomitable, Glory, Birmingham, Ceylon, Glasgow, Llandaff, Albion and Bulwark and 1959-61 with HMAS Melbourne.

Awarded the MBE in 1971, Charles retired in 1975 but continued as an RO until 1988.

A keen swimmer, rambler and woodcarver as well as a talented artist, Charles was a member of the Goldfish Club (for aviators who survive crashing or ditching into water), the Artificer Apprentice Association and ARNO.

WITH the phased implementation of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 the Armed Forces have been required to update their policy and processes in BR3 Chapter 60 Section 7 and JSP 893 – namely the policy on criminal records clearances and safeguarding vulnerable groups.

The reference books will be amended in February 2014 when the final position for the MOD has been determined. Meanwhile RNTM 218/13 has been published and deals with the new provisions requiring immediate and pro-active attention from all Unit Officers responsible for the process of obtaining criminal record disclosures for Naval Service Personnel.

The legislation has brought a number of changes, including a change of terminology – the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is now referred to as the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

However, the RNTM focuses primarily on the cessation of the production of the employer’s copy of criminal record disclosures and the necessary workaround.

CNPers requires Unit

DBS Officers to note the new process for suitability checks and ensure it is followed so that new appointments can proceed as planned. A failure to comply will seriously impact the Naval Service’s ability to provide assurance of compliance with the law and COs will be held personally responsible.

RNTM 218/13 describes in detail the change, solution and clearly articulates the process with regard to the production, oversight recording and monitoring of DBS clearances.

Meanwhile an audit review of RN compliance with safeguarding legislation and MOD policy is currently in progress coinciding with these latest changes. Any disparities identified on JPA records will be subject to remedial action.

Annual conferences are anticipated to brief attendees on legislation and policy developments, provide feedback and clarify uncertainties.

Further guidance on the subject matter can be obtained from the NCHQ point of contact: NAVY SEC-2 DISCIPLINE 1.

A special Fleet Air Arm brew – with a dash of rum. Interested?

Thanks to Wadworth Brewery, we’re offering the chance to win a mini-cask – that’s 8.8 pints – of their toprated Swordfish beer, launched in 2010 to commemorate the centenary of Naval aviation.

It’s a stronger version of the 6X beer, with added zest of a tot of Pusser’s Rum. It was intended as a oneoff, but proved so popular that Wadworth have continued producing it.

We have three mini-casks to give away to our readers if you can answer this question: the Swordfish was designed by Fairey, who built nearly 700 – but which British firm built the

so-called ‘Blackfish’ under licence?

Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Send entries to Swordfish Ale competition, Navy News, MP 1.4, Navy Command, Leach Building, Whale Island Portsmouth PO2 8BY, or email swordfish@ navynews.co.uk Please include your full name, address and postcode with your submission.

Entries must be received

by Friday December 6 2013.

Normal NN competition rules apply and the editor’s decision is final.

Winners will receive their casks directly from Wadworth. Kept cool, casks will keep for 14 days unopened, but once opened the beer is best consumed within 48 hours.

Safeguarding the Fleet

Win a mini-cask of beer

Entries for the Deaths column and Swap Drafts in December’s Noticeboard must be received by November 11 NOTICEBOARD ENTRIES ■ Notices for this page should be brief, clearly written or typed and addressed to – The Editor, Navy News, Navy Command, Leach Building, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth PO2 8BY, or email: edit@navynews.co.uk. If you are sending your notice via email, please include your full address and telephone number.

■ Reunions appear in date order, and requests to place an entry in a particular edition cannot be guaranteed.

■ Please send in Reunions at least three months (preferably four) before the month of the event.

■ There may be a delay before items appear, due to the volume of requests.

■ Entries are free to non-commercial organisations. Items pertaining to commercial work, books and publications for profit can only appear as paid-for advertising.

■ The Editor reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of submitted notices.

■ Space does not allow us to accept more than one free insert. Any subsequent notice will have to be paid for at advertising rates.

Paper back copies are available from 2005 to the current edition. Editions from 1990 to 2003 in PDF format are avaliable on a CD Please call 023 9272 6284 for details, or email subscriptions@navynews.co.uk 38 : NOVEMBER 2013

www.navynews.co.uk